This is a very fine example of a fairly scarce Vietnam era "U.S." marked Stevens Model 77E riot shotgun. These were originally placed on contract by the Army in the mid-1960s to augment and replace the aging stocks of WWI and WWII vintage trench and riot guns of various manufactures. They were primarily used throughout the Vietnam conflict as an excellent jungle warfare, ambush weapon as they could produce a high volume of fire (using OO buckshot) at close range during an ambush or to fend off sappers during a base attack. While regarded as one of the signature weapons of the Vietnam War, relatively few can be found on the American market today in any condition, as most were demilitarized in the 1970s and 80s when the Army was standardizing on the Mossberg Model 500 shotgun. This example is correctly stamped on the lower right side of the receiver with a single "U.S" with a single "P" proof on top of the receiver and barrel. The left side of the barrel has the standard Stevens/Savage Arms Corporation two-line barrel address, followed by "MODEL 77E" with the right side marked "PROOF TESTED 12 GAUGE/2 3/4 INCH CHAMBER". It has a single nickel bead sight. It is fitted with a ribbed hardwood forearm and a smooth hardwood pistol grip stock with vented red rubber recoil pad and a web sling. The length of pull (over the recoil pad) is 13 inches.